New York 2017: Genesis GV80 fuel cell concept

Unveiled at the 2017 New York Auto Show, the Genesis GV80 is a significant concept car for the brand. It’s their first SUV concept and is also powered by an ‘advanced plug-in hydrogen fuel cell drivetrain’, though no details were given as to the drivetrain itself. The Genesis GV80 will be put into production within two years, but without fuel-cell technology of the concept car.

To compete properly with BMW, Mercedes and Audi, as well as Japanese brands Lexus and Infiniti, Genesis must have an SUV and the GV80 provides a glimpse into the future and shows what a Genesis SUV could possibly look like. From what they’ve previewed, the next stage of Genesis design is much more confident than it’s ever been before, with bold shapes combined with swooping details to create a sleek SUV concept car.

“The GV80 Concept is a SUV that alludes to the confidence and evolution of the Genesis brand – its design is timeless, with an understated yet dynamic overall surface complexity,” said head of Genesis design, Luc Donckerwolke. “These are all characteristics that embody Genesis products and delicately reflect distinctive elements, which you’ll continue to see in future models from our brand.”

“There is a unique energy and diverse global culture to New York that is fitting for Genesis, and we are excited to unveil the GV80 Concept here,” added Genesis boss, Manfred Fitzgerald. “This concept is an important milestone for the brand to share our vision of the future, introducing a further expansion of our product portfolio.”

The exterior of the Genesis GV80 is drawn together with the staple Genesis grille, this time made of brushed aluminium. The car’s headlights are simple, jewel-encrusted units that add to the wide and horizontal look of the car. They also preview the jewel encrusted look that is used with the rest of the car, including the wheels, B- and C-pillars, lower air intakes, and parts of the interior.

The rest of the Genesis GV80’s exterior is very sleek, with a flowing shoulder line arching across the whole side of the car. It features huge wheel arches to hide the massive wheels. The 23-inch alloy wheels themselves are a detail geek’s dream as they feature a stamped diamond pattern on each spoke, and parts such as the brakes peer through them. The rear of the GV80 uses quad horizontal tailights similar in design to the headlights, with a large and confident Genesis badge in the middle of the tailgate.

The Genesis GV80’s interior is nothing like we’ve seen from Genesis before – it’s sleek, futuristic and technologically advanced. Most of the interior is covered in tan brown quilted leather, whilst the centre console and dashboard feature a grey suede/leather combination. The interior also features a 22-inch OLED curved digital cluster that ranges the whole width of the dashboard, and houses information such as the climate, communication, navigation and entertainment.

The show car’s boot featured some Genesis-branded luggage with the same tan brown and grey suede/leather theme.

The Genesis GV80 previews the brand’s aspirations for an SUV range, of which two – presumably the production version of the GV80 and a smaller version – will be on sale before 2020. Genesis Australia launches soon with the updated G80 (a rebadged Hyundai Genesis – the starting point for the Hyundai-owned brand), and the new G70, a BMW 3-Series competitor based on the Kia Stinger, before year’s end.